Dark Knight - Too scary for PG-13 rating?

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts) Aug 6th 2008 1:00PM

Categories: Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Media

On a rare date night, my husband and I went and saw Dark Knight last weekend, to find out what all the excitement was about. Though I thought the movie was really well done and can understand all the buzz, it was hard for me to concentrate on it because of the boys sitting in front of me. It's not that they were too noisy or distracting, it's that they appeared to be 6 to 8 years old. As the movie grew psychologically darker and darker, I couldn't help but wonder how it was affecting them.

This year's Batman is no kid flick and doesn't even try to be. Its PG-13 rating should be enough to warn parents that the content isn't suitable for young children (note: that's not permission to leave your young children in the car, by the way). But is a PG-13 rating high enough? Complaints from British parents are piling up, saying that the 12a classification the movie received there (similar to our PG-13 rating) isn't appropriate and that the movie should be rated 15a (no one under 15 admitted without an adult). Ireland and Scandinavia both rated the movie 15a.

My husband and I talked about this in depth on the ride home. Why does violence not warrant the higher ratings that drugs, sex, and language get? This movie was very violent; even if the camera cut away before viewers could see any gore, there was very little left to the imagination. Kids under the age of 13 are clamoring to see this movie -- it IS Batman, after all -- but this is definitely one movie where parents might want to adhere to the rating or at least pre-screen it themselves.

Did you see the Dark Knight? What did you think?

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Comments (14)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jenn 8-06-2008 @ 2:28PM

I have always wondered about this. I remember when Revenge of the Sith came out, one of my co-workers was asking if it was appropriate to take her young sons (6 & 7) to it. Her main concern? Cussing and sex. Never mind the murder of a bunch of children (not onscreen, at least, but clearly implied). Never mind the dark overtones of betrayal & anger. Never mind the horrific scene of a man being burned alive. She was fine with them seeing that, but if there was anything more sexual than a kiss, or cursing, they couldn't go see it.

I also have issues with parents who let their young kids see any anime they want -- just because it's animated doesn't mean it's for children! If these parents were actually watching the movies with their kids, they'd probably be horrified.

Shannon 8-06-2008 @ 3:30PM

after seeing TDK myself, i will not allow my child to see it. I LOVED the film, but it's too much. The rating says PG-13. Not PG - 6, or 7. I think a 13 year old would be just fine in it. I wonder how people justify taking smaller ones? Perhaps they want to go and have no sitter? Whatever. WAIT FOR DVD, people!

CoolerthanIce 8-06-2008 @ 3:36PM

I loved the Dark Knight. However, I am 21 years old. I don't understand why parents bring their babies---yes, there were babies crying in my theater--to a movie such as this. It's stupidity and obviously bad parenting.

Karen 8-06-2008 @ 10:01PM

I took an 11, 12 and 13 year old. I knew it was going to be dark and a little more out of the realm than I would normally allow my children to view, but the 11 and 13 year I took have routinely been exposed to these types of things. I only see them once a year and I wanted them to see something they would enjoy.

I totally regret it. The 12 year old was very upset. The trailers were upsetting and it went down hill from there. The 11 and 13 year old were not freaked out, but they were also trying to act cool. The fact that it wasn't disturbing to them only means they have been exposed to way too much inappropriate material already.

I thought the movie was uniquely distrubing and definately deserved an R rating. I think people who bring even younger children to see this movie that dealt with true EVIL are abusing their children.

It certainly was not on par with other recent pg-13 movies that we have seen.

I would much rather my child see sex and hear cussing than deal with imagery and the topic of EVIL in such an in your face and disturbing way. Worst of all is that there really wasn't a good guy in the entire movie. It wasn't like a story that you could at least say good triumphed over evil....the entire thing was questionable.

It was a great movie from a storytelling and cinematical POV, but it definately deserved an R rating.

Trisha 8-06-2008 @ 11:19PM

Like Shannon said, it's rated PG-13, not PG-6 or 7. I think it's way too scary for little ones, 13 sounds about right. I loved it but would never take my preschooler!
People treat the movie ratings a little like the speed limit, ya know, using it as a starting point for the speed to go rather than the limit. I guess it's just the reverse though in this situation:)

Karen 8-07-2008 @ 5:07PM

I think there should be a PG-15 rating.

CLM 8-06-2008 @ 11:03PM

People really just don't stop to think. Anyone remember Guillermo del Toro's "Mimic"? I sat next to a 4 year old in that particular R rated film. By halfway through the film, I was holding her hand and explaining that it was all make believe. Her parents apparently couldn't be bothered to notice she was literally shaking and crying in fear.

markycf 8-07-2008 @ 12:04AM

This is my opinion: My cousin called my brother since he already saw the Dark Knight and asked him how bad it was for her children (9, 7, 6, 4, 9 months). She wanted to know about cursing even though she has let her children read the curses and watch violent things. Her children get scared and one of them is even scared of the wind because he doesn't like the feeling of it on his face. He said it wasn't too bad and said it was fine for them. She is 25 and he is 20. I then told him about the Joker and how I was reading about the movie and people who were in their late 20s said that it scared them or that even 16 years old teenagers were scared or disturbed. He did call her back and say there was one scene that wasn't so good which was the pencil scene. She took them to see it anyway. I don't know how they reacted to it because I haven't seen them, but I know it isn't the type of movie they should see and would be scared of. I think that as a parent you should know what your children will be able to handle especially when it comes to violence and to watch things before you let your kids watch them. Many parents complain of curses or violence or sex, but as parents they should watch the movie or show or video or anything before they let the children watch it. If parents don't then they don't have a right to complain. Also, as a parent you decide what is okay for your children to watch until they turn 18 and if certain parents want to let their kids watch anything then that is their problem and future problems for their children.
Also this movie wasn't made for little kids as people have stated already. This movie is for grown ups who like Batman and who have known about Batman for years and not the little kid show on the tv and if they want their kids to watch a Batman movie then they're gonna have to watch the old ones which aren't so violent or have so much cursing and disturbing imagery.
I loved the movie and frankly thought it was too short and I can't wait for the next one. I'm glad it didn't have a higher rating though because that means I couldn't have seen it without my parents because I'm very soon to be 17. I love violence and gore and explosions and witty jokes, but don't expect to see me on the 10 o'clock news ever. I know the difference between a movie, etc. and doing the real thing and I don't let movies influence me (unless you know it is like a travel movie or a movie about following your dreams). I'm mature enough to know the difference and always have known the difference, but many parents don't teach their children the difference and continue to buy them things that just aren't acceptable or that promote violence or sex or cursing which includes war games.
I loved the movie, but if I were a parent there is no way I would take my children to see this movie and if I thought about it I would have watched the movie first.

markycf 8-07-2008 @ 12:05AM

Sorry for the super long post!

RagaliaStarr 8-08-2008 @ 2:37PM

wow...what movie did all of you see, because the Dark Knight I saw definitely wasn't scary. I'm 14 and I went but I wouldn't advise someone under 13 to go see it. PG-13 was right for this movie, I mean there wasn't obscene language in every sentence, you didn't see people having sex, and it wasn't gory. I've seen other pg-13 movies that probably should be rated X (in parent dish standards).

stay fly peeps =]

Jacqi 8-16-2008 @ 2:49PM

i tottly agree with you, it wasnt that bad for PG13 i mean come on people use your common sense if it says PG13 and it says for 'disturbing images' why would you bring your 7 year old there? PG13 was a good rating

Sara 8-10-2008 @ 2:59AM

The PG13 rating was for no other reason than to rake in the dough, which the movie is succeeding in doing. Who cares about all the boys in this nation (over 8 or maybe under) who sees this film and is will pay for it psychologically. American is not a place where kids are valued.

Kids will want to see this movie because it IS Batman. They won't expect the Joker as a Hannibal Lecter type of guy (totally inappropriate for any stupid PG13 rating.)

Other than that, the gratuitous violence, that went on and on and on, the sickness of the Joker in his detailed descriptions, the absurd blow ups...I suppose American loves, loves, loves, Shock and Awe. So cool, huh? Wow., I'm disgusted. Where are the adults in this country? And yeah, that means you people over 21, too. No care for the kids of your country. Guess not.

Kayla 8-16-2008 @ 12:32PM

I personally loved the movie, and though some parts were intese, I think the PG-13 rating is fair. They should not mess with it.

Benjamin 9-14-2008 @ 1:17PM

I'm 10 years old I went to see the dark knight it was fantastic but i'm a horror kid so it didn't bother me don't bring young kids please

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